In the 2021/22 NBA regular season, the current schedule has exceeded two-thirds, and some teams have played 60 games, and the competition for playoff spots has entered a critical stage. Judging by the current situation, the competition in the Eastern Region looks more intense, with a smaller gap in the top few; the Western Suns are far ahead, or lock in the playoffs as soon as possible.
Eastern Rankings:
The current Eastern Conference leader, the Bulls, are six wins ahead of the seventh-place Raptors, and the schedule is progressing to this stage, which is relatively small. With their recent five-game winning streak, the Bulls have temporarily moved up to the top of the Eastern Conference, and their situation is relatively safe, and the playoffs are not a big problem. The competition in the top few in the East is indeed very fierce, the gap between the Bulls and the Heat and Bucks behind them is only 1-2 wins, and the ranking of the three teams may change positions at any time. At present, the fourth-place Cavaliers still have a good record, with only 3 wins away from the leader, and there is also a chance to catch up.
The top few in the East this season have indeed been playing, with both the 76ers and Celtics reaching 34 wins, just four wins away from the leader Bulls. The Eastern Region has changed a lot in recent times, with the Celtics and Raptors squeezing into sixth and seventh places respectively with their strong play in recent times, and the playoff situation has improved significantly. The Nets and Hornets had a disappointing time, slipping to eighth and ninth consecutive spots. Among them, the Nets have won 2 consecutive wins in recent times, the situation has improved, and the previous 2-digit losing streak has really made fans very worried.
The Hawks, Wizards and Knicks are currently 10-12th, and the gap between them is not large. Given the fierce competition in the top six in the East, it is extremely difficult for these three teams to get straight to the playoffs, and there is still a chance to compete for a playoff spot. The three teams at the end of the East Tribe, the Pacers, pistons and Magic all have poor records, and there is a clear gap with the teams in front of them, and there is no chance to catch up. The Pistons and Magic in particular are completely out of the game and will soon be out early.
Western Rankings:
The Western Region Suns have recently won seven consecutive victories and firmly occupy the top spot in the Western Conference. The Suns are currently six wins ahead of the Warriors, and their leadership position is not worrying for the time being, and they will continue to lead the West. The Suns are currently 17 wins ahead of seventh place, and the lead is so great that a playoff spot is just around the corner. Unlike the Suns' continued strength, the Warriors had some troubles in the middle of the way, and today they were killed by the Nuggets' Morris three-pointer, and now they are being thrown away by the Suns and it is difficult to return to the leader position. Of course, the Warriors' overall record is very good, 11 wins ahead of the seventh place, and there is no problem in getting straight to the playoffs.
The Grizzlies have performed very well this season, with more than 40 wins, and the overall record is relatively close to that of the Warriors, and it should not be a big problem to get straight to the playoffs. The Jazz had some trouble some time ago, which opened up some gaps with the top three, but fortunately, the record in recent times was good, and the ranking was able to stabilize the top four. The Lone Rangers and Nuggets have a relatively stable record, remaining in the top eight and ranking in the top six most of the time, making them a strong contender for the playoffs. The Timberwolves' record is actually relatively stable, long in the playoff area, occasionally entering the top six but sitting unsteadily.
The Clippers, Lakers and Trail Blazers have all been in trouble this season, with their current winning percentages all below 50 percent, ranking long in the playoffs and impacting the playoffs a bit of a cliff this season. The Pelicans, Spurs and Kings have a similar record, with their current winning percentages below 40 percent, with little hope of hitting the top six and a chance to hit the playoffs. The overall record of the Thunder and Rockets is not good, ranking in the bottom two, and this season is so explained.